Stamp and stamp-canceling device.



PATENTED AUG. 29, 1905.

J. 13'. DB PEW. sT MP AND STAMP GANGELING DEVICE.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

, ficofiel en APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 1904.

No. 798,572. PATENTED AUG. 29, 190-5. J. 1). DB PBW.

STAMP AND STAMP GANGELING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION Hum NOV.-12, 1904.

2 BHEETSr-BHBBT 2.

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" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAOOB D. DE PEW, OF NEWPALTZ, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EUGENE VAN WAGENEN,

OF NEWPALTZ, NEW YORK.

STAMP AND STAMP-CANCELING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1905.

To all 1: 2,0111, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAooB D. DE PEw, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newpaltz, in the county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stamps and Stamp-Cam celing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined stamp and stamp-canceling device, and has for its object to produce a simple inexpensive device of this 4 character by which postagestamps may be readily canceled and the date of receipt of a letter applied at the same time to the envelop or other wrapper and one wherein thedates may bereadily changed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the dates are carried by endless chains, thereby rendering the stamp continuous or perpetual.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section, taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2, through my improved stamp. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the stamp. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view of the stamping-head. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are longitudinal sections taken on the corresponding lines of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the reversible stamping and canceling die. 1

Referring to the drawings, ldesignates a handle screwed centrally into or otherwise attached toa casing 2, disposed at right angles to the handle and having at its normally lower end a stamping head or die 3, provided with a central rectangular opening 4, there being extended transversely through the casing at appropriate points a plurality of rotary shafts or axles 5, 6, 7, and 8, each having fixed upon its outer end beyond the adjacent face of the casing a disk or handpiece 9, provided with a series of marginal notches or seats 10, arranged at diametrically opposite points and adapted to receive the angular portions or tips 11 of spring members or fingers 12, attached to the casing adjacent, respectively, to the disks and adapted through shaft for rotation independently thereof, 7

there being also upon said shaft a blank spacing member or washer .16, designed to maintain the sprocket-wheels in contact one with another. Arranged on the shaft 8 is a series of four sprocket-wheels 17, 18, 19, and 20, of which the latter is keyed to the shaft for rotation therewith, while the remaining sprockets 17 18 19 are loose upon the shaft for rotation independently thereof, the sprockets upon the shaft 8 being in the matter of form and construction identical with those on the shaft 5.

Arranged upon the shaft 6 is a plurality of sprocket-wheels 21, 22, 23, and 24, of which the latter is fixed for rotation with the shaft by means of a key 25, while the remaining disks are loose upon and adapted for rotation independently of said shafts, there being arranged upon the shaft 7 a series of three sprocket-wheels 26, 27, and 28 and a blank spacing member 29, the wheel 27 being keyed to the shaft for rotation therewith and the other wheels loose upon and for rotation independently of said shaft.

- Housed within the casing is a plurality of endless chains 30, 31, 32, and 33, each composed of a series of links pivotally connected and carrying stamping dies arranged one upon each of the links, the dies on the chain 30 being of a character to indicate years, those on the chain 31 to indicate time, those on chain 32 to indicate days, and those on chain 33 to indicate months, these chains being adapted for movement to bring the respective dies into proper assemblage within the opening 4 in the die-head, as indicated in Fig. 3, for indicating the complete date and time of receipt of a letter. The chain 30, carrying the year dies, is arranged for travel upon the'sprocket-wheels 13, 20, 21, and 26, carried, respectively, by the shafts 5, 8, 6, and 7, and is movable through the me- I dium of shaft 8, on which the wheel 20 is fixed, as heretofore explained, the shaft being in turn operable by means of the handpiece 9 and locked against movement by the lock the shaft and chain against movement.

The chain 32, carrying dies indicating days of the month, is mounted. for travel upon the sprocket-wheels 15, 18, 23, and 28, carried by the shafts 5, S, 6, and 7, the wheel being fixed to its shaft 5 and movable therewith for operating the same, while the shaft is in turn operable by the disk 9 and adapted to be locked against movement, as in the instance of the other shafts, by means of the adjacent spring-arm 12. The chain 32, car Tying dies indicating months of the year, is arranged for travel on sprocket-wheels 17 and 24, carried, respectively, by the shafts 8 and 6, to which (the latter shaft) the wheel 24 is keyed, whereby the chain may be moved, the shaft being movable through the medium of the adjacent disk 9 and adapted to be locked against movement by the companion spring-arm 12. It is apparent from this construction that the various chains may be operated to bring the proper dies in assemblage at the opening 4 to indicate the year, month, day, and time of receipt of a letter and that the disks or heads 9, through which the chains are moved, will be securely locked in their adjusted ositions and after each chain has been moved a distance equaling one link or die.

Projecting from the casing 2 adjacent the stamping-head is a pair of spaced arms 34, which receive between them a combined stamp and canceling-die 35, pivoted upon a pintle or axle 36 between the arms and provided at one end with a stamp 37, bearing the word Recd, and at its other end a ribbed canceling-die 38, which in practice will deface the postage-stamp. This die 35 is adapted to be rocked on its pivot for bringing either of its ends 37 or 38 into action and may be locked in either position by means of a spring-arm 39, corresponding to the arms 12 and cooperating with a head or disk 40, fixed upon the pintle 36 and having oppositely-disposed recesses 41 to receive an angular terminal portion or finger 42 on the arm for holding the shaft, and consequently the die, against movement. The endless chains having been properly adjusted, as heretofore explained, and the head 35 hav ing been set to bring into action either the stam 37 or canceling-die 38, a single blow of the evice upon the envelop or other wrapper serves to apply thereto the date of receipt of the letter or package and at the same time stamp upon said wrapper the word Recd or cancel the postage-stamp, as the case may be, and according to the part of the head 35 which is brought into play.

From the foregoing it is, apparent that I produce a simple inexpensive device in which the die-carrying chains may be readily and independently adjusted for altering the date and hour to be impressed by the stamp and one wherein the chains are independently locked for maintaining the dies carried thereby in set position and one in which the diecarrying chains will be positively moved during the operation of altering the stamp. In attaining these ends it is to be understood that minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the class described, a casing provided with an opening, a plurality of rotary shafts journaled within the casing, a plurality of sprocket-wheels carried by each shaft, a plurality of die-carrying chains arranged in the casing and for travel upon the sprocket-wheels, one of the sprockets for each chain being keyed to one of the shafts and the keyed sprockets being carried by different shafts.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing provided with a die-opening, a series of shafts ournaled for rotation in the casing, a series of sprocket-wheels carried by each shaft, a plurality of endless chains arranged for travel respectively upon corresponding sprocket-wheels on the shafts, one of the wheels for each chain being fixed to one of the shafts and the fixed wheels carried by dif ferent shafts, means for locking the shafts independently against rotation, and stampingdies carried by the chains.

3. In a device of the class described, a casing having a dieopening, a plurality of shafts ournaled for rotation in the casing, a plurality of sprocket-wheels carried by each shaft, a plurality of chains arranged for travel upon corresponding wheels on the respective shafts and carrying dies adapted for assemblage within the die-opening, a sprocketwheel for each chain being fixed on one of the shafts, and the fixed wheels carried by different shafts, an operating-head fixed on each of the shafts, and spring members designed for engagement respectively with the operating-head to independently lock the shafts against movement.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB D. DE PEW.

Witnesses:

PERRY SCHOONMAKER, EUGENE VAN WAGENEN. 

